Framework-shaped transloading bridge



Jan. 28, 1969 K. ALTEN FRAMEWORK-SHAPED TRANSLOADING BRIDGE Filed June 27. 1966 v Sheet Filed. June 27. 1966 Jan'. 28, 1969 K, ALTEN 3,423,780

FRAMEWORK-SHAPED TRANSLOADING BRIDGE sheetA 2 ora United States Patent O A 49,599 U.s. Cl. 14-72 Int. C1. Eind 15/12,-i:04c 1/04, 1/10 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A girder-shaped structure, especially transloading bridge, with an upper cord formed by a Iplurality of rst endwise abutting plates arranged along a first horizontal plane, and with a lower cord formed by second endwise abutting plates arranged along a second horizontal plane vertically spaced from said first plane, said second plates being located below said first plates. The respective abutting ends of said first plates and the respective abutting ends of sai-d second plates are hook-shaped, while braces with C-shaped terminal ends alternately embrace abutting hook-shaped ends of said lirst and second plates and brace said upper and lower cords relative to each other.

The present invention relates to a framework-shaped transloading bridge of profiled plates which positively interengage each other along those marginal areas thereof which extend in a ldirection transverse to the transloading bridge. The present invention is particularly directed to those transloading bridges the elements of which consist of light metal or similar lightweight material and which are ma-de by extrusion pressing in such a way that the profiled plates have su-bstantially uniform cross section over their entire length.

With loading bridges of the above mentioned type, certain dimensions of the profiled plates forming the same have to be observed because the manufacturing tools, especially the extrusion tools, will per-mit only certain sizes. Furthermore, it is to be taken into consideration that welding seams result in a decrease in the strength of the structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transloading bridge of the above mentioned general type which can be composed in the manner of buil-ding blocks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a transloading bridge which will have sufiicient strength while being simple in construction so as to permit the building up of transloading bridges of different lengths from the same type of elements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a transloading bridge as set forth above, which will be free from welding seams.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l illustrates a side view of a transloading bridge according to the invention and made, for instance, of aluminum.

FIG. 2 is a partial top View of the bridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of.

one of the lower panel points of the bridge in a modified form.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a further modification.

The framew0rk-shaped transloading bridge according to the present invention, which is built up of profiled plates positively interengaging each other along those marginal areas which extend transverse to the bridge, is characterized primarily in that the plate-shaped struts or braces which lead to a panel point are alternately changing their directions and are arranged one behind the other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of said bridge. Advantageously, the ends of said struts or braces are flush with each other, more specifically, the ends of said struts or braces are inserted in a groove of a cord member in a coaxial manner or they are coaxially placed upon a protrusion of the cord member.

Inasmuch as the said struts or braces have an extension which is less than the width of the transloading bridge and are arranged so as alternately to ascend toward the left and toward the right, the struts or braces at the adjacent panel point are arranged so as to leave a gap, and this gap can be employed for the insertion of additional struts leading to a third panel point. This sequence can be continued at will so that the most different frameworks are possible and, consequently, also transloading bridges of different lengths.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the arrangement shown therein illustrates a transloading bridge spanning the gap between a ramp 1 and a vehicle 2 in order to be able to carry out a loading or unloading operation by conveying means movable on the ground.

The transloading bridge substantially comprises a bridge body 3 with end profiles 4 and 5 for resting on ramp 1 and vehicle 2. The loading bridge 3 furthermore comprises a platform 6 which is tiltable about a transverse axis 6a of' a pivot-like extension which is pivotally connected to the end profile 5. This platform 6 may preferably be of the type ydisclosed in rny co-pending application Ser. No. 561,651, tiled of even date herewith and entitled Loading Bridge With Pivotally Connected Platform. The eleyments employed for building up the transloading bridge may consist of extrusion pressed profiles which extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bridge and of which the end profiles 4, .5, the upper cord plates 7, and the lower cond plates 8 as well as the platform 6 extend over the entire width of the transloading bridge. Furthermore, struts or braces 9` ascending to the left andv struts or braces 10 ascending to the right are provided which extend toward upper panel points O1, O2 and O3 and to lower panel points U1 and U2.

The profiles 4, 7, -8 and 5 which extend in the transverse direction of the bridge have their rim portions hookshaped and arranged in such a way that adjacent rim portions of these profiles together form a substantially T-shaped strip 11 which is embraced by the substantially C-shaped terminal portions 12 of the struts or braces 9, 10 in such a way that solely by this positive interengagement, a suiciently firm and strong connection is obtained at the panel points O and U. In addition thereto, the profiled shapes are adapted to each other in such a way that an interengagement is possible when employing force.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the struts or braces 9, 10 are lined up without gaps on the strips 11 of the panel points U1 and U2 while in the transverse direction of the assembly each strut `9 is followed by a strut 10. In this way, the same aligning possibility is obtained for the panel points O2 Ewhereas for the panel points O1 and `O3 which are subjected to less stresses, the struts 9 and 10 are arranged in offset relationship to each other. In this way, any desired extension of the bridge body 3 is possible by providing further cords 7 and 8 and inserting further struts 9 and 10 into the gaps ofthe panel points O1 and O3.

While for purposes of strength a gapless sequence of the struts or braces is expedient at the panel points U1, U2 and O2, it is also possible to interpose spacers 15 (FIG. 3) of a suitable profile or braces extending in different directions as for instance vertical braces 116. The upper and lower terminal portions of the braces may be 3 designed identical to the terminal portions of the braces 9, 10, 9a, 9b.

It is also important in this connection that the cord -plates which meet each other at the panel points are held togetherby a jaw-like profile at the edges of the braces 9, 10. Furthermore, the panel points at which the lbraces 9, 10 are arranged without gaps may be provided at the upper cords if this should be advantageous for reasons of strength. The end profiles could, of course, also vary their shape.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, yby no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is:

1. A ginder-shaped structure with an upper cord and a lower cord, especially transloading bridge, which includes: a first end member for placement on a first support, a second end member spaced from said first end member in the longitudinal direction of said structure, first plate means interposed between said first and second end members and extending over the width of said structure while forming the upper cord of said structure, second plate means vertically downwardly spaced from said first plate means and interposed between said end members and extending over the width of said structure while forming a lower cord thereof, each end of said plate means of said upper and lower cords and the respective end member end portions near the respective adjacent plate means having hook-shaped portions with the upper hook portion of said end member abutting the hook-shaped portion of the upper cord plate means and the lower hook portion of the end members engaging the hook portion of the lower cord plate means, each said first and second plate means comprising a plurality of plates in end to end relation with abutting end hook portions, and a plurality of groups of bracing means interconnecting said upper and lower cords and bracing the same relative to each other, said bracing means being provided with C-shaped terminals, the C-shaped terminal at one end of each bracing means embracing a pair of said end hook portions on the said plates of said rst plate means and the said bracing means extending toward the said second plate means and embracing a pair of said end hook portions on the said plates of said second plate means, the bracing means of each group respectively having their hook-shaped end portions respectively pertaining to said upper cord and lower cord arranged one behind the other in the transverse direction of said structure while said bracing means of each group alternately extend in opposite directions from the upper cord to the lower cord.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in which the Cshaped terminals engaging the upper cord and pertaining to one and the same group of bracing means are aligned with each other in the transverse direction of said structure, and in which similarly the C-shaped terminals engaging the lower cord and pertaining to one and the same group of bracing means are aligned with each other in the transverse direction of said structure.

3. A structure according to claim 1, which includes spacer means arranged between each two transversely adjacent bracing means of each group of bracing means.

4. A structure according to claim 3, in which the spacer means and the bracing means of each group follow each other in transverse direction of said structure and the adjacent said C-shaped terminal portions are in abutment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,407,059 9/1946 Crafton 94--13 3,289,375 12/1966 Cline 52-570 3,037,590 6/1962 Pavlecka 52-593 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 730,009 S/l932 France.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. XR. 

